by G S Santos
Suddenly, she felt a hand rest on his shoulders. She turned around in surprise and found Talia smiling at her, her dark hair flowing in the air.
"Talia!" Adelphine said. "Have you seen Mrs. Tara? I have something to tell her!"
"Will you agree to her idea?"
"I have to talk to her. Where is she?"
"Come with me," Talia said, turning and walking toward her own house. She left the door open. Adelphine stared at her, confused, and followed her inside.
"So Tara is not here? Where is she?"
"Where she is, I do not know. But she gave me something in case you came."
Adelphine sighed desperately and sat down at the table.
"I have something for you."
Talia leaned in front of a box on the shelf and took out an envelope, handing it to Adelphine. It had a red seal like blood and the banner of the kingdom of Ladania: a two-headed eagle holding a bundle of arrows.
"And that?" Adelphine looked at her with an arched eyebrow.
"It is for you. On behalf of Tara."
"What is it?"
"She told me to open it as soon as you're alone. It's very important."
"Good. Do you know when she returns?"
"I do not think she'll come back in a long time."
"What? Are you going to leave me like this, in the middle of nowhere? She had proposed something to me."
"Did you see the letter? Did you see the seal?" She approached Adelphine's ear, took the envelope from her hand, and whispered, "This is coming from the king's court."
Adelphine blinked and felt the colors fade from her face. "What?"
"So, take care of the letter. It is for you, and you only."
Adelphine nodded. Now what? What was in that letter? She reached for the seal and pulled it slightly.
"Stop there," Talia said. "She said to open it when you're alone. And I must give you something more."
"Well," Adelphine said, curiosity taking her to the point of madness. "And what's the rest?"
"It's another thing that Tara asked me to do."
"Talia..."Adelphine got up from the chair. “ It's very early. I just wanted to talk to Tara. You know, so she can explain a little more... But you know her more than me. What do you think I should do? Do you think it's a good choice?"
"You can trust her," Talia said, her eyes clear and honest. "I know that for a fact. But you're going to have a very strange adventure. So prepare yourself."
"Do you think that…?"
"You will not get hurt."
"She told me she was going to take care of Kaunas."
"And she will, but that does not mean nothing happens to him. At least, I think it will keep him alive."
Adelphine swallowed. She shook her head in indignation.
"Alive? Talia! Is there something worse that can happen to him before he dies? Kaunas will not resist anymore. You do not know how he feels now."
"You decide, Adelphine. She promised you that she would take care of him, whatever it means, she will help you. And thus you will fulfill your purposes."
"Talia, would you trust your nephew? Your niece?"
"Yes," she said with a sigh. "Adelphine, this is not what you think. It is something much bigger than simple magic. It is more than hurting or falling in love with people at will. All the cosmos has to do, all the gods are involved."
"Aunt, I do not get it. What do you mean?"
"It's your decision. I followed the path of Tara myself. It was not easy, but it was worth it. It will not give you what you expect, the way you expect it, because it is not the magic of the earth. It's something that goes beyond."
"But... I do not understand. Do you know when she will return? I think she can explain it to me more clearly."
"She said she was leaving for a long time."
"What? Then, well, you tell me. Talia, this is too much. What does she expect me to do? Or when should I go?"
"I do not know. If I were you, I would do what she tells me. Open the envelope as soon as you're alone, and decide."
"Well." Adelphine sighed, nodded, and carefully placed the envelope in the bag she was carrying.
"Now wait a moment," Talia said, turning around and running to the pantry.
Adelphine heard the noise of the pots. Then Talia appeared, carrying a sack of cloth over her shoulders, and left it on top of the table.
"What is that?"
Adelphine came over, glanced in, and her mouth watered at the sight of fleshy peaches.
"Is this for me?" she asked.
"For you, for Kaunas, and for Lakmé."
"Lakmé?" Adelphine raised an eyebrow.
Talia took a deep breath, her green eyes blinked. "On behalf of Tara and you," she said, solemnly. "She said this deserved a celebration, but since she was not here, you would take a tribute to the Temple of Lakmé."
"The goddess of fate? If she says so... Where is this temple?"
"On the west gate."
"What does she want me to do?"
"Leave a little fruit and incense."
Adelphine sighed and looked inside the sack. Seriously? Was she going to give those tasty, thick peaches to a marble statue?
"She said you must give her the best if you want to do well on the trip."
Adelphine swallowed, then sighed. "Understood," she said.
Chapter VI:
The wrong one
Wil had been waiting for Adelphine since the day he left her at the castle gates, believing she would visit the sorceress often, maybe daily. He waited in vain, gazing through his window, while his hopes to see her again waned with every day. He missed her like he had never missed anyone; he spent hours remembering the short conversations they had shared; he thought of her voice, and the future they could have if she decided not to leave ever.
That day, he was sitting in the barn, a hammer in his right hand, a nail held between his teeth, holding one of Perkunas’ back legs, and nailing the last horseshoe after the cleanup. Then Sura broke his concentration.
"Wil, come, quick!" she said through the window.
He mumbled back, trying not to let the nail fall to the floor, and meaning to tell her not to interrupt him.
But then she insisted. "Come, your girl is passing by!"
As soon as he heard that, he let the hoof go and rushed to the house. Sunlight broke through the windows. The chairs were still on top of the tables for the morning clean up. Sura stood next to the window, broom in hand, her hair wild as if it had been visited by a typhoon, leather apron on her chest.
"Fast! You’ll miss your chance!" she said.
"What? You mean Adelphine?"
"Who else?"
"Where is she?" he said, leaning toward the window, but he only saw the stone street, the sun casting shadows on the walls, and a mountain of horse dung in the middle of the road.
"She just passed by. I’m pretty sure she’s going to Talia’s. Go and talk to her, you northern lion, hurry up. I want to have nieces and nephews."
"Fine. Fine… I'm going... But...what should I tell her?"
"Well, offer her help. Come on, there’s nothing strange about it. You're going to give her a ride so she can get home early. It is not an impropriety. What could go wrong?"
"I'm going now," he said, striding down the stairs and out into the street. He saw her just before she crossed the corner, with a veil hiding her long hair, but her figure was unmistakable. Wil felt his stomach churn, but he knew that if he did not stop her then, he might not see her in a long time.
He swallowed and followed her through the streets, hiding behind the walls until he saw her knocking on the sorceress's house; and later, Talia receiving her in her own home.
Wil stayed there, by the door. He thought about what excuse he was going to give, because waiting for someone like that could be perceived as strange. Yes, she sure already thought it was weird, he should not ruin his reputation any more than he had already. He decided to go back home, or at least wait behind the pillars
and pretend to meet her by chance.
Suddenly the door opened, and he saw her come out with a sack on her back. Wil felt his heart beating, and he ran to the corner. He thought of the solution. How not to look like an idiot?
He walked toward her as if everything was a coincidence. "Ade!" he shouted.
She seemed surprised and looked from one side to another until they locked gazes. Her large eyes shone like jewels in the sun, one green as emerald and the other one blue like sapphire.
"You again!" She frowned. "Why do I have to find you everywhere I go?"
"I do not know." Wil smiled. "Maybe it is our density."
"Our what?"
"D-d-destiny. I mean destiny."
Adelphine rolled her eyes. He sighed. Why did she have to be so mean? He had been the mean one, he remembered.
Adelphine cleared her throat. "What do you want?" Adelphine said, as if questioning him for standing in front of her. Wil took a deep breath. This was the chance to make things right. "Do you need a ride home? That bag looks heavy, and I don’t think your shoes will make it."
Adelphine sighed and let out that shy smile, with perfect teeth under her soft, rose-like lips.
"Yes, why not? But don’t you dare to ride like a savage, understood?"
"Yes." Wil smiled, reaching out to help her with the bag of peaches. "Come on, follow me."
Wil turned around and guided her to his family’s tavern, but instead of entering through the front door, he passed through the barn smelling of excrement, with open barrels filled with oatmeal and grain all over the floor. He left the sack in a corner and advanced to the shabby garden until he reached the barn. He pushed open the wooden door. Perkunas stood there, watching their movement intently, with his ears facing forward and coughing as if expectant.
"Come here, my friend," Wil said, tugging gently on the reins. Perkunas trotted forward, while Adelphine watched with her arms crossed. "Have you ever owned a horse?" Wil asked as he took the brake that hung next to him and adjusted it gently on Perkunas's head.
"Yes, I had a pony when I was little. But I did not take care of it myself. We had a caregiver."
"What was his name?"
"The horse or the caretaker?"
"What interest should I have in the caretaker?"
"The pony was called Avza." Adelphine smiled.
"Avza? Could you not think of something more creative?"
"I was not very creative as a child."
"Well." Wil finished saddling and tied the sack to Perkunas’s chair.
"Your house is quite big," Adelphine said.
"Well, it's not a castle," he said and mounted Perkunas with a gasp. Then he reached out and helped Adelphine up.
Wil glanced sideways and saw that something was about to fall out of the sack. He took it quickly and held it up. It was a carefully folded envelope of paper, with designs of flowers engraved in ink and a red stamp bearing the shield of King Jogälion.
"What is this?" he asked.
"Nothing, give it to me." Adelphine reached out to take it off, and he quickly pushed it away.
"What is it?" Wil's voice was agitated. He took another look at the envelope. "Tell me."
"Give it back, Wil!" said Adelphine worriedly.
"Yes, I'll give it to you, but tell me... What is it?"
"It is a letter."
"Whose?"
"Do you mind?"
"Yes, I care."
"Give it to me." Adelphine stretched her hand out, and Wil raised the letter aloft, away from her. "Wil!"
"Tell me who is it," Wil asked. "Are you engaged?"
"No, Wil, it has nothing to do with that! It's something else!"
"What is it?"
"I do not know, I have not opened it yet."
"What the hell is this?" he said and handed it to Adelphine.
She sighed. "Tara gave it to me. I have not read it, Wil, but...but I think it's about the trip."
"Why do not you tell me?"
"I promised I would not show it to anyone."
"Well," he said with a sigh and spurred. Perkunas trotted out, left the barn, and dashed through the streets.
But Wil could not ignore the curiosity he felt. Was she going to get help from the king? Or had some nobleman invited her to something? Maybe someone wanted to take her as a wife. That would ruin the dreams he had had all week; that had changed his world and his expectations. He could not allow his future to depend on that mystery. He had to find out. He turned his gaze back and spoke to her.
"So, are you going to open it?"
"Not yet," said Adelphine, annoyed, as if she did not want to continue the conversation. Wil, however, felt his emotions overpower him.
"Well, open it."
"I'll open it when I get home."
"And will you tell me?
"Wil, do you care about this? Seriously?"
Adelphine's responses made him feel like he was hitting a wall over and over again. What did that girl have? Surely, she had not forgiven him for his wonderful first impression.
"It's fine." Wil sighed. "It's your thing."
Suddenly, Adelphine screamed like Sura when she saw mice, and Wil felt his heart shoot up.
"What’s wrong?" he asked.
"I forgot! Wil, do you know the temple of Lakmé?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I have to go."
"Now?"
"No, Wil, next year."
"Well, next year..."
"Now! Don’t you understand sarcasm?"
For a moment, Wil thought he had chosen to fall in love with the wrong girl, but he took a deep breath, pulled the reins, and made Perkunas turn in half a turn.
"What's wrong with Lakmé?" Wil asked, surprised.
"I have to make an offering to her."
"Did Talia tell you to do it? Well, well," he said with a sigh. He glanced back and realized that Adelphine was staring at the letter.
"I'll take you home now. It's not that close, huh?"
"It does not matter," she said, but she did not look away from the envelope. The paper seemed to glow under the sun.
"Do you want to open it?" he asked.
"You know what… Do you have a penknife?" Adelphine said, and he smiled to himself, hoping his anxieties would calm down.
"Take my knife." He unsheathed a small knife in his belt and handed it to her without looking back. Then he heard the envelope open behind him. Suddenly, the horse stumbled over a stone, and both of them were pushed forward. She hugged Wil to keep from falling, and he barely kept his balance on the chair.
Suddenly, Adelphine let out a scream. "Blast! No! No way!"
"What’s wrong?" Wil turned his head quickly, alarmed, and saw the letter rise with the wind, as if thinking by itself and wanting to go, then fall into the ditch on the side of the street and move afloat into the black water.
"Gods! Wil, the letter!" Adelphine shouted, her whole body thrown forward.
Wil looked at her. "There goes your letter."
"Blast!" She gave a shout so hard that Wil thought her throat was going to be cut. Adelphine looked terrified and pointed to the ditch. "Let’s get it back!"
"By Perkunas, god of thunder. What’s wrong?" Wil asked.
Adelphine turned her body and dismounted awkwardly.
"Come on, Adelphine? Is it that much of a problem?" asked Wil. "What do you want to do?"
But Adelphine was already running to the side of the ditch.
Wil looked at her, perplexed, and spurred. Perkunas neighed and galloped lightly.
"Come on, friend! Get moving!" he shouted as he reached for Adelphine and passed her with an outstretched hand.
He could not get there, so he slid to one side, avoiding Perkunas's head, holding onto the saddle and down the side as the horse accelerated.
Wil felt his feet touch the ground and took advantage of the moment, took two steps as he descended and pushed forward, and ran, following the paper that flowed next to the water of the trench. He reached o
ut his hand and felt pieces of who knows what next to it in the current. He felt the sheet and pulled it out. The parchment dripped, and he felt he could break it in one go.
"Thanks, Lakmé! I beg for your forgiveness!" Adelphine cried, her eyes fixed in the sky as she snatched the parchment from his hands.
"Thank you, Lakmé?" Wil scowled. "Hey, I did not see Lakmé sticking her hand in the scum-water," Wil said as he smelled his own hand and recoiled with a grimace of disgust.
"I thank you, Wil. Really," Adelphine said and sighed.
"Well." Wil stretched his back. The maneuver to get off the horse had left a pain in his back. "What does the scroll say?"
"I do not know," she said. “And I will not read it yet."
"They told you not to open it, right? Well it is already open."
"But look at what happened!"
"Come on, read it."
Adelphine looked from side to side and sighed. "Yes. I have nowhere to put it after all. Listen to me, Wil."
"Yes?" He sighed once more.
"I think I'm doing something wrong. This is magic, you know; if I don’t follow a step, things might not work out how they should."
"Stay calm. Just read it. If something happens, it is because it had to happen."
Adelphine began to read, and as she did, her eyes opened wide.
"So?" asked Wil. "What does it say?"
Adelphine blinked and shook her head.
"Come on! Tell me!" Wil insisted.
"I cannot believe it!"
"What is it? Come on, tell me."
"That..."
"What?" Wil looked at her steadily.
"We have to go to the temple of Lakmé!"
Next to the west gate, stood a wide, green field covered with trimmed grass and autumn flowers of many colors. Fresh air blew through the terraces, and the wall enveloped the enclosure like a protective mother.
There were pruned trees that became more numerous the further they went, and there was a pond bordered by statues in the middle. A small shrine stood in front of the gate with a marble dome and five pillars around it.
